Assistant / Associate Director of Development, Athletics & Recreation

colby; Waterville (ME); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Colby College in Waterville, ME seeks an Assistant/Associate Director of Athletic Fundraising to build on momentum from the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and grow annual and capital support.

Reporting to the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, you will qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni, parents, and friends to help reach a $3.2M area goal for FY27. Positions scale by rank with distinct portfolios and gift levels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in education and experience is required.
• 3-5 years fundraising or related experience; demonstrated success in making direct solicitations preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills are required.
• Organizational and time management skills are essential, as is the ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
• Minimum of 2 years of fundraising/communications experience for Assistant Director; athletics annual giving/fund management and/or non-profit annual giving experience highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of Colby alumni, parents, and friends capable of making leadership annual fund gifts and contributions toward athletics and recreation priorities within the Dare Northward, particularly those at $10,000 and above.
• Partner with Colby Fund team, Advancement Communications, and Athletics Communications to design and execute multi-channel communications (email, direct mail, web, social media) and dedicated athletic giving challenges.
• In partnership with the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, manage a portfolio of athletics alumni varsity boards with the goal of increasing alumni participation and annual fund support for specific varsity programs.
• Participate in execution of events and programs in support of development activities, engage key volunteers, and effectively utilize events to move solicitations forward.
• Partner with the Colby Fund team to implement an annual giving plan that achieves dollar and participation goals for athletics and recreation within the Colby Fund.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience

Job description

Job Description

Department:

Advancement Athletics Fundraising

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Employee Type:

Job Summary

The College seeks a highly motivated Assistant/Associate Director of Athletic Fundraising to build on momentum generated by the Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and expand annual and capital support.

Reporting to the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, this position qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards alumni, parents, and friends to help achieve a $3.2M area goal for FY27 ($2.8M raised in FY26).

Scope and portfolio size are aligned with rank:

Assistant Director: Focuses on team and department communications, prospect qualification, pipeline building, volunteer board support, and solicitations at the $2,500-$10,000+ level.

Associate Director: Manages a portfolio of 150-200 households, driving solicitations from $10,000-$100,000+ for annual, endowed, and capital priorities while leading varsity board strategy.

Both levels partner with coaches and volunteers to manage a cohort of Friends of Colby Athletics varsity boards and identify new major-gift prospects.

The hiring range for the Assistant Director level is $55,000 - $65,000

The hiring range for the Associate Director level is $75,000 - $90,000

Essential Functions

For Associate Director: Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of Colby alumni, parents, and friends capable of making leadership annual fund gifts and contributions toward athletics and recreation priorities within the Dare Northward, particularly those at $10,000 and above

For Assistant Director: Partner with the Colby Fund team, Advancement Communications, and Athletics Communications to design and execute multi-channel communications (email, direct mail, web, social media) and dedicated athletic giving challenges.

Essential Functions for both:

• In partnership with the Director of Development for Athletics and Recreation, manage a portfolio of athletics alumni varsity boards with the goal of increasing alumni participation, growing annual fund support for specific varsity programs, and engaging the community of athletics alumni
• Participate in execution of events and programs in support of development activities, engage key volunteers, and effectively utilize events and other activities to move solicitations forward
• Partner with the Colby Fund team to implement an annual giving plan that achieves the dollar and participation goals for athletics and recreation within the Colby Fund, including mass annual giving campaigns and micro campaigns
• Partner with coaches in budgeting and goal-setting process, solicitations, and board management program
• Routinely gather and analyze data in order to assess alumni or families who should be assigned to gift officers
• Share athletics and recreation updates, milestone anniversaries, and current use fundraising needs with divisional colleagues to advance athletics fundraising efforts
• Serve as a visible and accessible representative of athletics engagement by attending athletics contests and events regularly
• Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

Position Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Associate Director

Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in education and experience

3-5 years of fundraising or related experience; demonstrated success in making direct solicitations preferred

Strong written and oral communication skills required

Organizational and time management skills are essential, as is the ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independently

Assistant Director

Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in education and experience

Minimum of 2 years of fundraising/communications experience; athletics annual giving/fund management and/or non-profit annual giving experience highly preferred

Experience with email marketing tools, database management, and microsoft office suite required. Experience with GiveCampus and Blackbaud technology preferred

Qualifications for both

Professional conduct and appropriate handling of confidential information is required

Attention to detail and accuracy are critical

Talent to manage multiple projects and priorities while working within deadlines to achieve ambitious goals

Prior experience managing volunteers, the ability to manage complex relationships, and proven collaboration and teamwork skills in a diverse community to leverage activities, initiatives, and programs for multiple purposes

Understanding of the moves management process and ability to think and work strategically

Willingness to travel and to work hours